Belarusian national handball team win tournament in Gdansk

The Belarusian women’s handball team have claimed three victories at the international tournament in Gdansk, Poland.

In the opener the Belarusians defeated the national team of Poland with a result of 24:23, then confidently outmatched the Slovakian team with the score 27:22.  The final match against the Ukrainians resulted in the score 24:23 in favour of Belarus.

The overall standings are as following: Belarus – 6 points, Poland – 4, Slovakia – 2, Ukraine – 0. For all the participants the tournament in Gdansk turned to be one of preparatory stages for the World Championships 2017 knockout rounds in June. On their way to the World Championship the Belarusian team have to win the squad from Montenegro.

The men's national team gets ready for the qualifying tournament of the European Сhampionship 2018. Last weekend the Yuri Shevtsov’s players held two control matches with the Swiss in Schaffhausen. In the first match the Belarusians lost with a score of 28:32; another game they played in a draw (31:31). The Belarusian team comprise of the players of SKA Minsk and Gomel. In early May, Belarusian team holds two matches in the qualifying Group 2 vs. Polish team. The rivals meet in Minsk on 4 May and play in Plock on May 7.

The Belarusian women’s national team (U-19) have not got into the final of the continental championship. In Zhlobin the Elena Guseva's team won only once a triumphant in the qualifying Group 6 as they defeated the peers from Georgia with a score of 34:24.

In addition, the Belarusian lost to the teams of Switzerland (24:34) and Portugal (23:40). Final ranking: Portugal – 5 points (goal difference 99-63), Switzerland – 5 (94-68), Belarus – 2 (81-96), Georgia – 0 (58-105). The Portuguese handball players advance to the final round. Also, the hosts of the upcoming Junior European Championship in Slovenia will play with the teams of the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Montenegro, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, France, Sweden, Serbia, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia and Russia. The tournament to be held from July 27 to August 6.

Read full at: http://www.belta.by/sport/view/gandbolistki-sbornoj-belarusi-vyigrali-turnir-v-gdanske-oderzhav-tri-pobedy-238285-2017/

Translation by 5th year BSU student Anastasiya Litvinchuk